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The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Samoa has inaugurated its first Digital Media Hub at the TATTE Building in Apia, designed to enhance public outreach and communication. Equipped with advanced digital and audiovisual technologies, the Hub will produce timely, high-quality information and awareness content on food, agriculture, and fisheries. The initiative aims to strengthen… [Read More]

A new report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) exposes the global scale of illegal waste trafficking, conservatively estimated to generate up to $18 billion annually. While comprehensive data is limited outside Europe, the report highlights that all regions are affected. Legal waste management reached $1.2 trillion in 2024, up from $410… [Read More]

A recent UN-backed report highlights the urgent need for stronger political commitment and inclusive policies around land rights, particularly in the context of climate change, biodiversity protection, gender equality, and rural transformation. While over the past two decades more than 70 countries have undertaken land reforms and adopted national and international frameworks for responsible regulation… [Read More]

The Ontario government is investing $5.8 million to support two Kitchener-based medical technology companies as they expand production, scale globally, and commercialize Ontario-made health innovations. This funding marks the first round under the Life Sciences Scale-Up Fund (LSSUF) and aligns with Phase 2 of Ontario’s Life Sciences Strategy, complementing the Health Innovation Pathway to accelerate… [Read More]

The Ontario government is modernizing its Veterinary Assistance Program (VAP) to expand eligibility and simplify the application process, ensuring livestock producers in Northern and rural Ontario have reliable access to veterinary care. These changes aim to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector and support veterinarians in safeguarding livestock health. Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth,… [Read More]

The forest sector is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy, providing vital jobs and supporting communities nationwide. Facing challenges from U.S. trade measures, the Government of Canada is taking decisive action to protect workers, stabilize businesses, and enable the sector to modernize and diversify for long-term growth. Measures announced in August 2025, including the creation of… [Read More]

On February 25, 2026, in Ottawa, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced an important update to the AgriStability program to better support Canadian livestock producers. The changes add pasture-related feed costs as an allowable expense under the program, starting with the 2026 program year. This amendment aims to provide fairer support for producers whose animals graze… [Read More]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD, have announced €10 million in funding under the EU Just Transition Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative to support two bioeconomy projects in Ireland’s Midlands. The funding, co-supported by the Government of Ireland and the European… [Read More]

Renters, homeowners without driveways, flat owners, landlords, and businesses in the UK will be able to claim grants covering up to half the cost of installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points, saving up to £500 per installation. This boost, announced on 25 February 2026, comes as part of the government’s efforts to make EV ownership… [Read More]

The UK Government has announced a £50 million investment to support councils and organisations tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, with a focus on the areas and people under the greatest pressure. The funding is divided across two major programmes to help achieve the national goal of halving long-term rough sleeping by the end of this… [Read More]

In Apia, Samoa, Nuanua O Le Alofa (NOLA) serves as the national advocacy organization for people with disabilities, working to empower individuals to participate fully in society. Mataafa Faatino Utumapu, NOLA’s General Manager, emphasizes the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities understand their rights and can access the same opportunities as others. As a… [Read More]

Critical funding shortfalls are putting the lives of over 1.9 million displaced people in South Sudan at risk, as humanitarian needs continue to outpace available resources, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported. South Sudan remains one of the world’s most displacement-affected countries, with nearly 10 million people requiring humanitarian assistance. Under the 2026 Response… [Read More]

A new Migrant Worker Resource Centre (MRC) has been established in Siem Reap province to strengthen awareness and support services for potential and returning Cambodian migrant workers, especially those in the fishing and seafood processing sectors. Operated by the Phnom Srey Organization for Development in close collaboration with the Provincial Department of Labour and Vocational… [Read More]

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed continued support from the Government of the Republic of Korea to vulnerable communities in Lebanon through school meals and in-kind food assistance. On 25 February 2026, H.E. Mr. Gyusuk Geon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Lebanon, visited WFP-supported activities in South Lebanon, emphasizing Korea’s… [Read More]

Over the past four years, the World Food Programme (WFP), with funding from the European Union (EU), has played a crucial role in supporting vulnerable Ukrainian refugees in the Republic of Moldova, alongside the Moldovan families and communities hosting them. Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Moldova has received more than… [Read More]

On 21st September 2025, SAS Foundation conducted its 22nd E-Waste Collection Drive in India and the 8th in Faridabad at Palm Residency Apartments, Sector 76. While this may appear to be a routine collection event, it exemplifies how communities, youth, and organizations can collaborate to foster a sustainable future. Electronic waste is one of the… [Read More]

Ethiopia’s Berbere woreda, located at the foot of the Bale Mountains in the Oromia region, is surrounded by perennial rivers, making it ideal for agriculture. Despite this natural advantage, farmers struggled for years to access water due to limited electricity and the high costs or unavailability of petrol and diesel, making irrigation impossible. As a… [Read More]

Private sector engagement has proven to be a game-changer for rural transformation. Projects with strong private sector participation under IFAD achieve average income gains of 64 per cent—four times higher than projects without such engagement. The public-private-producer partnership (4Ps) model is central to this success, as it explicitly positions small-scale producers as equal partners rather… [Read More]

Climate-related shocks are becoming increasingly frequent and severe worldwide, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. Beyond the immediate loss of life, these disasters can destroy livelihoods, displace communities, and damage critical infrastructure. In response, the humanitarian sector has emphasized anticipatory action—proactive measures taken before crises occur to reduce their impact. Mobile and digital technologies are… [Read More]

Trust is a fundamental yet often overlooked asset in development, shaping whether initiatives succeed or falter. As public trust in leaders and institutions erodes globally, its influence on development outcomes becomes increasingly visible. Surveys such as Edelman’s Trust Barometer highlight a retreat into insularity, where economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and climate crises encourage societies and… [Read More]

Pastoralists and agropastoralists living in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS) face unique challenges, with women and girls often experiencing heightened marginalization. Addressing women’s empowerment in these contexts was the focus of an action research initiative carried out by three locally-led projects in Nigeria and South Sudan. The projects were funded by the International Development Research… [Read More]

In 2023, the Start Network was approached by members of the UK Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to design a locally led pooled fund in Ukraine, motivated by the fact that, despite a crisis receiving abundant funding, only 1% of humanitarian resources had reached local organisations. By 2025, the Ukraine Pooled Fund (UPF) had been launched,… [Read More]

2026 is shaping up as a critical year for global AI governance, as artificial intelligence evolves at a pace that challenges existing international frameworks. The Global Digital Compact negotiations offer important lessons in translating technical complexity into political consensus, highlighting the need for multilateral cooperation and shared understandings to guide AI development responsibly. UN Secretary-General… [Read More]